...But state has Rs 3,000cr for Marathwada

TNNFeb 24, 2005, 12.15AM IST

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved Rs 3,000-crore schemes for the development of the Marathwada region over the next five years.

"The schemes worth Rs 3,307 crore include irrigation projects and infrastructure development," state chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said after a special Cabinet meeting focussing on Marathwada region here.

He said a total of Rs 1,192 crore would be spent on irrigation projects to be implemented from '04-05 to '07-08. Over 1,600 km of roads would be developed at a cost of Rs 1064.6 crore, he said. The Cabinet also approved a Rs 817-crore proposal for the tercentenary festival of the gurudwara at Nanded, he added.

Rehab policy will consider all factors: Mr Deshmukh also said the new policy on rehabilitation of slums in Mumbai will be decided only after taking all factors into consideration.

"It is difficult to say anything on the new policy to be implemented for the rehabilitation of slums," he said during a Cabinet briefing here.

The authorities have been asked to conduct a survey on the slums that have come up till '00 and submit a report within a week so as to discuss the issue in the Cabinet, he said, adding that those plots vacated in the drive will not be allowed to be occupied once again.

Replying to a query that the state government cannot order the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) not to demolish slums that have come up between 1995 and '00 since the law prohibits so, Mr Deshmukh said, "the state government has only given instructions of following the 'last come first go' policy for the demolition of hutments in the metropolis."